Following Afghanistan's August 20, 2009 presidential and provincial council elections, the Taliban released a statement, titled "From Farce Elections to Genocide," alleging a U.S. role in a powerful car-bombing in Kandahar city on August 25.
Accusing the U.S. of "implicating" the Taliban in the bombing, that killed over 40 people in Kandahar city, the Taliban statement mentions the phrase "shock and awe" - used by the Bush administration during the Iraq war - to indicate that such a strategy is being used by the Taliban fighters against foreign forces in Afghanistan, without targeting civilians.
Following is the text of the statement, as published originally in English on the Taliban website www.alemarah1.info: [1]
The Elections Were "Aimed At Showing the American People That the Afghans Were Voluntarily" Turning Out to Vote
"The recent staying away of the Afghan Mujahid people from the foreign-dominated electoral process, and their clear-cut opposition to the farce election, showed once again that the Afghans have decided to resist all ambitious goals and projects of the invaders.
"This is because the election, being conducted by direct bullying, intimidation and arrogance of the invaders, has no validity in their eyes. Their unambiguous posturing portrayed that they are not ready to live under the yoke of colonialism, even for a little while.
"It would have been more fitting for the Americans to have behaved in a reasonable and mellowed manner after the failure of the election parody; they should have expressed their anger and hopelessness - which was brought about by the election boycott of the Afghan nation - in such ways as news conferences, statements, commentaries, etc.
"We know that the Americans deserve to be offended and angered at the boycott of the Afghan people, because they spent billions of [U.S.] dollars and underwent eight prolonged years of belligerence but still were not able to prevail on the Afghans to leave their houses to cast votes, ironically, in an American project.
"Ostensibly, the project [i.e. the elections] was aimed at showing the American people that the Afghans were voluntarily taking part [in them] despite the U.S. military presence in the country.
"But the severe explosion in Kandahar city [on August 25], which killed innocent citizens of Kandahar at sunset when they were to break their fast, showed that the polling day frustration and disappointment had driven the invaders to frenzy, fury and bestiality - they are not even sparing to exact revenge for the low turnout during this month of fasting, and shed blood during these sacred days."
"You [Americans] Will Never Be Able to Spread the Cobweb of Hatred and Division by Perpetrating Mass Murders through Pre-planned Explosions"
"If the Americans believe that they can mislead the Afghans by resorting to explosions and civilian killings, they are wrong. They must know that their crimes will not remain secret from the knowledge of the public for good.
"You [Americans] will never be able to spread the cobweb of hatred and division by perpetrating mass murders through pre-planned explosions - and to fish in troubled water by implicating the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in such heinous events. The Afghans know whose hands are behind such gruesome incidents."
"The Mujahideen... Venture to Confront the Invading Enemy and Their Surrogates Face-to-Face… In Order To Avoid Civilian Casualties"
"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, for its own part, does not believe that such wicked and horrific events will ever bring victory. The Mujahideen affiliated with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan venture to confront the invading enemy and their surrogates face-to-face in combat in order to avoid civilian casualties. Using this tactic, the Mujahideen daily attack the enemy and take them by shock and awe.
"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is greatly concerned over the sanguinary event of Kandahar, shares the pains and grief of the bereft families, and prays to the Almighty Allah to save this miserable nation from further tragedies, grief and anomalies."
Endnote:
[1] www.alemarah1.info, Afghanistan, September 6, 2009. The text has been lightly edited for clarity.
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